WITH more than a little help from his friends a cancer survivor has been able to hand over more than £14,000 to two hospices.

Wind turbine engineer Carl Jones, 44, from Deganwy, was able to go back to work on Monday after being given the all clear from throat cancer having being diagnosed last November.

He was devastated by the news but determined to fight the disease, and his family and many friends have backed him every step of the way.

“Carl and I have been lifelong friends, and he’s very popular.

“When his friends heard about the cancer we decided to support him as much as we could,” said close friend Scott Hobson.

Carl’s family and friends formed a committee and organised a sponsored walk for St David’s Hospice in Llandudno and Ty Gobaith Children’s Hospice at Tyn-y-Groes.

Carl was expecting 50 friends to turn up for the walk from Dwygyfylchi to Llanfairfechan, via the Sychnant Pass, Tal-y-Fan and Moel Lwyd but in the end 76 friends and family took part.

He said: “Sadly I couldn’t do the walk myself as I just didn’t feel up to it, but I met them in Llanfairfechan.

“The response has been very humbling, I’d like to thank everyone for their support.

“ It was a really fantastic day.”

Scott said: “Everything went perfectly, even the weather was good.

“The walk took around three and a half hours, and when we got to Llanfairfechan the Pen y Bryn pub laid on free sausages and chips for everyone.

“Arriva also laid on a free bus to take us back home, so I’d like to thank them and the Pen y Bryn.”

The friends also organised a social evening at the Crosville Club in Llandudno Junction.

“During the evening £2,600 was raised by an auction which included, two nights at a four star hotel in London, tickets for a West End show signed football shirts from Manchester United, Everton and Liverpool, and a raffle raised £1,900,” said Scott.

Together with sponsorship money from the walk and admission price to the social evening the friends raised a staggering £14,423.89.

Carl and some of his friends went to St David’s Hospice on Friday to hand over the money to fundraising manager Beth Bithell, and Ty Gobaith fundraiser Bev Bradley.

“All this was done in support of Carl, who is so obviously well loved by his friends,” said Beth.